Machine and method for forming creases in fiber board



C. C. GAMM ET AL MACHINE AND METHOD FDR FORMING cREAsDs IN FIBER BOARD 2 sheets-SAQ@ 1 Filed Feb. 11 192e Dec. 21 1926.

C. C. GAMM ET AL MACHNE AND METHOD FOR FORMING CREASES IN FIBER BOARD l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1l. 1926 CHAR-LES C. GAMIIF AND FR-EBERIGK htlldd TZEAOHINT. AND IfET-IGD FOB, FRMING' CRESTS EN FIBER BOARD.

Aiplcaton filed Februar f This invention relates to a method and apparatus of forming a crease or groove in sheet or corrugated material. lt is now a common practice to form containers, includ ing rectangular bores, of various kinds of liber board and corrugated board and it is also a common practice to form creases in said material, along which the material is folded to form the container. l/Vhile various methods and apparatus have heretofore been used in forming such creases in the material, certain objections have always existed. lWhen the material is folded to form a container, the laminations of the material often separate so that the material expands and is rendered soft and of reduced strength and stiffness.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a simple and efficient method and apparatus for forming a crease or groove in fiber sheet or corrugated material.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus in which the said crease or raised groove is formed in the material by drawing the material between a male and female die having respec tively a groove and rib thereon, co-operating to form the groove in the material, and in which one of said dies is rapidly reciprocated against the other, the material being continuously fed between said dies.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a machine having a fixed die, a movable die.l feed rolls at each side of the dies for drawing material therebetween, means for rapidly reciprocating one of said dies against the other, together with means controlled by movement of the material for actuating said last mentioned means.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a machine as set forth in the preceding paragraph, in which the movable die is pivotally mounted adjacent the fixed die.

It is still further an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for forming a crease or raised groove in fibrous sheet or corrugated material, by compacting the same between male and female die, one of whichis heated.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connec tion with the accompanying` drawing, which 1i, ieee. Serial nu, 8?.,529.

like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the diderent views and in which Fig. 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the machine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section formed on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. e' is a plan view of a blank or a bor: having the creases formed therein;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a sheet of material having a groove formed therein;

Fig. 6 is an edge view of a sheet of matef rial bent at the groove formed therein, to have its sides at right angles, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a container formed of a sheet of material having the grooves formed therein.

Referring to the drawings, a machine is shown comprising` side frames 10 having openings 10EL adjacent their lower ends, which openings are surrounded at the inner side of said frames by reinforcing` ribs 10b, said frames being connected together adjacent their lower ends, by a cross bar 11 hav ing its ends disposed in the vopenings 10a. rlhe side frames 10 are connected at their upper ends by the cross rail 12 secured to central upstanding portions 10c of frames 10 by the bolts 13. Secured to the central part of cross rail 12 is a fixed female die 14. the same being secured by the headed and nutted bolts 15 having their heads countersunk in the lower face of said die. The die 11i is adapted to be heated and for this purpose a heating element 16 is provided, indicatedin dotted lines in 1, the die having binding posts 17 at its ends, to which the terminals of member 16 are connected, and which posts are adapted to receive the conductors 18, the heating element 17 preferably being of electrical type.

rlhe side frame members 1() have also secured thereto and extending longitudinally thereof, the upper frame members 19, which frame members extend over the cross rail 12. Said frame members 19 have lugs at each end, boredto receive the headed and nutted bolts 20, the nuts of which sur mount the lugs on member 19.V The bolts 20 extend through the flanges 10d of side cured thereto the t'eed rolls 23 spaced equal distances at each side ot the ixed die 1l. Side frame vmembers 10 also have bosses 1t)e bored to have Journaledtherein the sha-lts v24 which also extend from one side trame member tothe other and have secured thereto the lower feed rolls 2 5, shafts 22 and 24 Vbeing vertically alined. The vshatiis 22 and `2 l="pre3"ect at one side `ot the machine and have secured `thereto the meshing gears 26 and 2T. The Agears 2'? are driven by a gear-28 'disposed between the saine and carried on the hub-or" a pulley 29 journaledon astub -shatt -30 secured in a hub projecting i'rom the side of one of the side iframe ineinbers 1Q. Pulley 29 is held on shattBO by the collar 4'31 securedby the bolt 32 threaded into said shalt. The gears 26, 27 and 23 areindicated in 'dot rand dash lines'in Fig. 1.

Side frame members 1G are also connected by a cross head 33 having atits'central vportion upstanding spaced members 33a. 'Meinbers 33a are formed las projecting 'lugs at one end vand arebored to receive the -pivot` pin 34: 'extending therebetween 4and having pivoted thereon 'the vlower movable die The Adie 35 `constitutes a male die adapted to co-operate with 'the Vlixed die 16 and has a central npstanding rib 35SL extending longitudinally ot its tfop surface. A plunger 36 has its .upper end disposed between Imembers 33a and `has a reduced portion extending` downwardlythrough cross head 33, a shoulder-thus being formed to contact with said crosshead and holdthe plunger in position. lrllhe plunger 36 extends downwardlyin-to the upper end oft the `cylinder 37, the lowerend otwhich rests on the cross bar "11. Cylinder 37 is bored `atf31`tohave slidably .mounted ltherein 4the piston 38, said piston having spaced portions with a reduced portion therebetween.. The piston 38 has va 'portion 33 extending upwardsinto a reduced bore of cylinder 38, portion 38*l being also in two parts, .with a connecting portion oi' reduced diameter. Cylinder 37 is further provided with nfluid chambers 37b and 3,70. Ports 3Zd and 37C extend respectively from the top :and bott-om of chamber 37b intokthe cylinder bore 37, and similar ports 37f and 37g extend respectively from the top and bottom of chamber 37tinto the cylinder bore. A. passage 37h also extends through cylinder 38 kand communicates with the reduced bore `at the top .of the cylinder at its upperend,

and communicates with an exhaust passage llfL extending` from member l1 at its lower end. Air is supplied to the bottom of cylinder by a fluid or air pipe l() which extends downwardly through the cross bar l1. Pipe 4:0 is connected by suitable connections to alpipe 1l secured in anair supplying valve 4t2 mounted on the cross rail l2. Sai-:l valve has a passage 42 communicating with the pipe l1, which passage communicates with a chamber in the valve which supplied with air or other fluid by the supply pipe 4&3. `The valve proper has guiding stems at its upper and lower sides and is adapted to seat on a valve seat termed at the bottoni of chamber ft2 Vso as to cut otr communica-- tionbetween pipes e3 and -l-l. The valve l normally is pressed to its seat by a spring IThe lower valve stein all ot valve fie projects through the bottoni ot the valve casing '1l-2 and rests upon theupper end ott lever e5 pivoted at e6 to a bracket i7 secured to the under sident` the cross rail 12. The other` end of the lever curves downwart and is pivoted yby pivot member -l-S tio to the ends of a pair oi' levers 49 extending in opposite directions from pivot -iS and pivoted respectively by the pivots 50 and 5l to downwardly extending arms of bracket 47. `The ends oi levers are formed as reversely curved lingers -ltla having their lower surfaces substantially at the bottoni ot the vfeed iolls 23, these lingers extending respectively towards opposite ends of the machine.

Operation.

.In operation the pipe Li3 will be connected to a suitable source of fluid under pressure, such as compressed air and power will be applied yby a suitable belt to the pulley 29. then pulley 29 is driven the feed rolls 23 and 25 will Abe rotated through the gears 2, 27- and 28, so that rolls 23 and 25 are driven in 'opposite directions and in such a manner that they will tend to progress a sheet material therebetween. Electric current is supplied from a suitable source to the conductors 13, so that the'die 14 is heated. The 4`fibrous sheet of material illustrated as vwhich maybe smooth or corrugated. is now fed between the rolls 23 and 25 as shown in yFigs. 1 and3, `and between the dies lO and llVhen the die 35 is in its upper position, the rib 35a projects into the longitudinal groovein die 14e. rIt will be noted that the tre-eend of die 35 has its top surface inc-lining somewhat downwardly so that the rib in the die 35 is not at such a gre-at height at this end ot the die. As the material passes between the first rolls 23 and it lifts the linger 49a. other end of the respective lever Ll?) and moves the short end of lever e5 downwardly. Thisraises the free end of lever 15 and This depresses theV valve stem 44a, so that valve 44 is lifted from its seat against the pressure of spring 45u. Air thus is supplied from pipe 43 and from chamber 421 to the pipe 4l. As stated, this pipe is connected to the pipe-40 and air is thus supplied to the cylinder 37 and to the bore 3? therein.

rlhe air supplied to the bottom of bore 37 forces the piston 3S upward. lhen said piston reaches a certain point, the reduced portion of said piston affords communication between ports 37f and 37 and the air thus passes through the top of piston The piston strikes against the top of the cylinder and rebounds and the air at the top t-hereof impells the same downward, when the air at the top is cut off and exhausted through the exhaust port 37h. The piston is again urged upwardly, and thus reciprocates very rapidly. The piston and cylinder illustrated show merely a common commercial form of valveless reciprocating tool.

The piston 88 is thus rapidly reciprocated in the usual manner for an air driven reciprocating tool. Theupper end 38' of the piston then imparts a series of blows or impulses to the lower end of plunger 36. These impulses occur with great rapidity andl the plunger 36 then imparts a like series of very rapid blows or impulses to the` lower side of the movable die 35. This die is thus repeatedly raised and presses the material 55 against the die 14 and rib 35a presses the material into the groove "in die 14 so that a crease or groove is formed in the material, as illustrated in rl`his groove thus forms a rib on one side of the material. The upper die 14 heilig heated, an embossing effect is given to the material and the portion thereof which is pressed into the groove in the fixed die is compressed and compacted. Vhen the material is bent to form a box, so that the portions 55a and 55h at each side of the groove extend at right angles as shown in Fig. 6, there will be no opening of the layers or laminations of the material. The fibrous n'iaterial used always contains a certain amount of moisture and the heating and compressing effect of the dies compact-s the material so that the same is made stiffer and has less tendency to open up when bent, as shown in Fig. G. rlfhe ma terial moves continuously through the machine and after the saine passes the rear end of the dies 85 and 14, the crease or groove is perfectly formed therein. lt will be seen that owing to the downward inclination of the top of die E35, the groove is gradually formed as gthe material moves between the dies. rlhe piston 38 and plunger 36 will continue to operate until the material has passed beyond the finger 49a at the rear of the dies. as this finger will hold the valve 44 open. After the material has passed this last linger 49a, the finger will be allowed to drop and the action of the fluid piston v38 will be stopped. It will thus be seen that the material can be quickly run through the machine and a perfect crease oi groove formed therein.

F rom the above description it is apparent that applicant has provided a very simple y and eflicient method and apparatus for creasmg or forming a groove in fibrous or corrugated sheet material, such as is now commonly used in the construction of containers. ln Fig. 4 a sheet of rectangular material 56 is shown, the same having been cut as shown at the slots 56a and having been provided with creases or grooves along the lines 56h. After having been so creased, the box is folded as indicated in Fig. .7, to form a rectangular container, the overlapping sides being secured in any suitable manner, as by staples or adhesive. y

The method and apparatus disclosed have been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and efficient. Not only is the operation performed in very rapid manner, but a very superior product is obtained.

lt will, of course, be understood that various changes maybe made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of parts of the apparatus and in the steps and sequence of steps of the method, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device and method capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the novel parts and combination of parts disclosed, as well as in the novel steps and sequence of steps disclosed, and also as set forth in the appended claims.

lThat is claimed is:

kl. An apparatus for creasing fibrous sheet or corrugated material having in combination, a stationary die, a movable die, said dies being shaped to press the material therebetween and form a groove therein, means for feeding the material between said dies and means for rapidly reciprocating said movable die against the material to form said groove therein.

2. An apparatus for creasing fibrous sheet or corrugated material having in combination, a female die having a groove extending longitudinally through the surface thereof, a male die having a rib adapted to press the material into said groove, means for feeding material between said dies and means for rapidly reciprocating one of said dies whereby the material is compressed between the dies and a groove formed therein.

3. An apparatus for creasing fibrous sheet or corrugated material having in combination, a fixed die, a die adapted to aline and co-operate therewith and pivoted at one end to swing toward and from said fixed die, means for feeding the material between said lli dies and means for rapidly reciprocating said movable die to form a groove in said material.

Il. An apparatus tor oreasiiw iibrous sheet or corrugated material having in combination, a female die havin@l a groove extending longitudinally through the suriace thereo,.a male die having a rib adapted to press the material into said groove, means for continuously moving the material between said dies and means for rapidly reciprocating one of said dies to form a groove in said material.

An apparatus for ereasingiibrous sheet or corrugated material having in combination, a tem-ale die having a .groove extending Ylongitirdinallg,v through the surface thereof,

a male die having'a rib adapted to press the material into said groove, said dies being constructed and arranged to approach more closely at one end than the other,v means 'or continuously feeding the material between said dies and means for rapidly reciprocating one or' said dies to press the material therebetween, whereby a groove is formed in said material.

6. An apparatus for creasing iibrous sheet or corrugated material having in combina tion, a female die having a groove extending longitudinally through the surface thereof, a .male die having a rib Vadapted to press the material into said groove, means 'for contin- ,uouslv feedin@ the material between said dios, means 'for rapidly reciprocating one of said dies to press the material therebetween, whereby a groove is formed in said material, and means controlled by the movement ot the material, for rendering said last mentioned means operative.

7. An apparatus for creasing librous sheet or corrugated material having in combination, a vtemale die having a groove extending longitudinally through the suri'ace thereof, a male die having a rib adapted to press the material into said groove, means for continuously feeding the material between said dies, means for rapidly reciprocating one of said dies to press the material therebetween, whereby a groove is formed in said material, means controlled by the movement ort the material, for renderingsaid last mentioned means operative, air operated means for actuating said last mentioned means, a valve for controlling the supply Aof air to said air operated means yand means operated by the movement of the material, for controlling said valve.

8. A method of forming a crease. or groove in iibrous sheet or corrugated mate rial, which consists in progressing the material between a die having a groove extending longitudinally therethrough and a male die having a rib extending longitudinally thereof. adapted to cofoperate with sait groove and rapidly Vreciprocating one of said dies ,to press the material between said dies and lform a groove therein.

9. A method ot forming a crease or groove in iibrous sheetor corrugated material, which consists in progressing the matei'al continuously between a female die having a groove extending longitudinally there through and a male die having a rib eX tending longitudinally thereof, adapted to co-operate with said groove, heating one ot said dies and rapidly reciprocating one ott said dies to press the .material therebetween vto emboss the same and form a groove therein.

l0. A method ,of forming a crease or groove in fibrous sheet or corrugated material, which consists in progressing the material continuously between a pair of dies adapted to co-voperate and form a groove in said material and rapidly reciprocating one of said dies to continuously Yltorm a groove in said material.

il. An apparatus for creasing brous sheet or corrugated material having in combination, an upper female die having a 4groove extending longitudinally through the surface thereof, a lower male die Vhaving a rib adapted to press the material into said groove, means for continuously moving the material between said dies and means 1mparting a series of rapid blows to said male die to cause the same to press the material against said female die and orm a groove therein.

in testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

@TABLES C. GAB/iM. FREDERICK H. CORDES. 

